Public broadcasters to do more

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Managing Director Hugh Marks said that while the national broadcaster can now reach more Australians than ever before, it is being asked to "do more without more" across an expanding range of platforms.

Delivering the keynote address at the ABU Global news forum in Sydney this morning, Mr. Marks said news remains critically important and that he approaches the industry’s challenges with optimism.

"We are funded to do broadcast radio, TV, digital and podcast," Marks said. "But we keep adding content platforms without additional resources."

He pointed to recent mistakes, including issues at Four Corners, as examples of what happens due to funding limitations.

"Limitation on funding means we are constantly asked to do more without more."

Mr. Marks said the ABC now faces a "huge audience challenge" because its viewers and listeners are no longer the same.

"With multiple platforms and complex audiences, this is a challenge. But the opportunity is that we can reach more people now than we could before."

The ABC Managing Director said the broadcaster’s role is to balance depth and accessibility while protecting public trust in journalism at a time of rapid change.

Meanwhile, the ABC has welcomed international broadcasters to Sydney for a major forum focused on the future of public media, with ABC Head of International Claire Gorman saying it is an “honor” for the ABC to host.

Speaking at the opening this morning, Gorman said the ABC has a great tradition of hosting important industry events. This year’s gathering has drawn participants from as far as Colombia and Uzbekistan. 

The forum is being held under the theme “Resilient Journalism, Safeguarding Truth and Wellbeing”.

"Across the globe information travels fast and AI and disinformation are putting pressure on newsrooms," Gorman said. "Our ABU engagement allows us to adapt to the changing media landscape."

"Our ABU activities mean we are engaging robustly and learning from each other," she said. "Our team and I love to work with our partners across the region."

Gorman also reaffirmed the ABC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in journalism, saying it must remain central to how public broadcasters serve their audiences.

The ABU brings together public broadcasters from across Asia and the Pacific to share news, resources, and strategies to strengthen trusted media in an era of rapid technological change.